Full name Arthur Edward Carlaw Position Wing, Stand-off 1909–1913 Auckland Other name Artie | Nickname Artie 1908–1913 Ponsonby United 1909–1913 New Zealand | |
Arthur Carlaw was a New Zealand rugby league player who played a role in the establishment of the sport in New Zealand and represented his country.
His brother, James, was an administrator in the sport and Carlaw Park was named after him.
Playing career
Carlaw was involved in the formation of the Ponsonby United club in August 1908, the first rugby league club to be formed in Auckland. The club played a series of matches against loosely organised teams.
The Auckland Rugby League was formed on 19 July 1909 and Carlaw was part of the organisations first sanctioned match, captaining a City combination against the North Shore. During the season he also played for Ponsonby and at the clubs first AGM, on 30 July 1909, he was elected to the clubs executive. He also represented the district that year, playing against Taranaki and Wellington.
Carlaw was also part of the 1909 tour of Australia by New Zealand however the series was lost 1-2. He again played for his country in 1910, losing 52-20 to the touring Great Britain Lions at the Domain Cricket Ground.
Carlaw had again played for Ponsonby during the 1910 season and was selected for Auckland, being part of the side that lost to Great Britain 52-9 and also touring Wanganui, Bluff, Invercargill, Dunedin, Napier and Dannevirke. He served as referee in the Bluff match.
Carlaw was selected by New Zealand to tour Australia in 1912. During the tour the captain, Arthur Francis, left to take up a professional contract with Wigan and Carlaw was appointed his replacement. Carlaw again represented New Zealand in Australia in 1913, his final season.